Genesis 35: Renewal at Bethel

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Core message

Spiritual reset means burying idols and revisiting God’s first encounter. Losses come, but the covenant keeps advancing.

Flow

• God commands Bethel; Jacob removes idols and earrings, calls for cleansing.
• At Bethel, altar built; God reaffirms “Israel” and repeats land/fruitfulness promise.
• Rachel dies delivering Benjamin; buried near Bethlehem.
• Reuben lies with Bilhah.
• Isaac dies at 180; Esau and Jacob bury him together.

Key verses

• 35:2-3 Put away foreign gods; purify.
  • Practice: renewal starts with concrete idol disposal.
• 35:10-12 Name reaffirmed and covenant restated.
  • Practice: in shakiness, rehearse identity and promise.
• 35:19-20 Rachel’s death and pillar.
  • Practice: mark losses with remembrance and faith.

Literary/Theological notes

• “Again” God appears, reopening the narrative after turmoil.
• Burial of idols uses funeral imagery, picturing death to old loyalties.
• Deaths and sin (Rachel, Reuben, Isaac) threaten the line, yet promise persists.

Today’s application

• Trash physical/digital idols when renewing your walk—make it tangible.
• Revisit the place/practices of first encounter with God.
• Erect reminders at loss-points to preach hope to your future self.

FAQ

Why bury earrings too?
They likely carried amuletic or cultic meaning; removing them purged every hint of idol reliance.

Why mention Reuben’s sin?
It forfeits his firstborn privilege and highlights that inheritance follows God’s choice, not human merit.